Chapter Text
Molly and Lily spent the weekend together as Molly showed Lily around the castle and helped her get used to Hogwarts. When classes began Molly walked Lily to her first hour before taking off on her own. Throughout the day Molly was so busy she couldn't meet up with Lily until after classes ended for the day.
Said redhead was sitting at the lake watching the water move.
“Hey Lily.” Molly said sitting down beside Lily
“Hey,” Lily said, a little quieter than Molly had known her to be.
“Rough day?” Molly asked
“Yeah, it's really hard to adjust. I'll be ok though,” Lily said
“Do you want a cuddle?” Molly asked.
Lily nodded quietly.
Molly wasted no time pulling the first year into her lap so Lily could wrap her arms around Molly's neck.
Lily wouldn't tell Molly but she loved cuddles, they always helped her to calm down after a hard day or being overstimulated.
The way Lily relaxed into Molly didn't go unnoticed. Molly quickly tucked the little piece of information away to have when Lily needed Molly.
“Can I braid your hair?” Molly asked after a long moment of silence.
“Sure, it's been annoying me all day,” Lily admitted.
Molly gently maneuvered Lily to sit in front of her so Molly could braid her long ginger locks.
Molly wrapped a silk ribbon around the end and tied it into a bow. She put it over Lily's shoulder when she was done.
“Thanks Molly,” Lily smiled.
It was getting toward dinnertime so Molly led Lily inside. The great hall was loud but with Molly close Lily didn't mind it. Lunch was a nightmare, she sat with her friend and potions partner Amelia but soon after lily finished eating she ran off to decompress before herbology because the noise was too much for her.
At dinner Molly sat with her friends Alice and Mary, neither of which minded lily being present and an active participant in their conversation. Both always went by the logic of if Molly likes them then they're ok. Molly was always a great judge of character. Lily didn't end up saying much because she was still quite shy but she enjoyed the presence.
After dinner they went back to the common room to do homework.
Finally after both witches had finished their homework they shared a hug and went off to their dorms to go to bed.
Everything was peaceful until Lily woke up suddenly.
She woke up shaking with fear and unable to catch a full breath, she didn't know what was happening but she went to Molly anyway.
She tiptoed down the hall and quietly entered the 3rd year dorm.
She went to the second bed to the left of the door to find Molly.
“Lily? What's wrong,” Molly asked in a whisper
Lily couldn't talk so Molly pulled her into her bed and closed the curtains as she casted a silencing ward over the bed. She finally cast a lumos charm and looked at her smaller companion.
Lily was shaking and hyperventilating and she was crying, tears trickling down her cheeks.
“Oh Lilyflower, can you take a deep breath for me?” Molly asked
Lily tried to take deep breaths but kept failing.
“Like this sweetheart. In through your nose, out through your mouth.” Molly said, breathing with her.
As lily began to calm down Molly kept talking to her
“You're safe here Lilyflower, I promise.” Molly whispered, pulling Lily close.
Lily scooted closer and hid her face in Molly's shoulder as she calmed.
“Can you tell me what happened to cause all this?” Molly asked
“I had a bad dream. I know it seems silly but I dreamt that everyone here hates me like my mum and dad do and that I'd get kicked out and have no-” Lily said before she began to hyperventilate again.
“Lilyflower, breathe. None of that is going to happen, no one here hates you. I promise. I can't even begin to tell you how many of my friends have said that you're so cute and sweet because they see how we do things together. They love you and they don't even hardly know you.” Molly told
“Really?” Lily asked
“Sure do, when I came in to go to bed Alice and Mary said they loved sitting with you at dinner and said anytime you want you can join us.” Molly said
Lily smiled at this
“Now come on get cozy, we're gonna need our sleep so we can get up in the morning for class.” Molly said
“Hang on, I need to go get Daisy.” Lily said scooting out of the bed and tiptoeing out of the room, Molly waited a moment and Lily reemerged and climbed into her bed with a stuffed puppy.
When they got snuggled close Lily spoke
“I like when you call me Lilyflower,”
Molly smiled “if you want you can call me Mollywobbles or mollypop,”
“Mollypop that sounds like lollypop,” Lily giggled.
“It sure does,” Molly said.
Molly gently rubbed Lily's back and slowly lily fell sound asleep letting Molly follow her into slumber.
The morning came and Molly checked that her friends were still asleep before waking Lily and sneaking her back to her dorm.
“Thanks Molly, I was having a rough time last night.” Lily thanked the older redhead.
“Anytime my Lilyflower, if you need me come find me, no matter what.” Molly said “now get ready, I hear they've got sausage rolls for breakfast this morning if you want some.”
“Ooh yummy,” Lily smiled
“Meet me in the common room when you're ready to go to breakfast.” Molly said.
When the younger girl met up with her 3rd year companion they walked down to the great hall giggling about some funny jokes the 2nd years were telling in the common room.
The great hall was empty save for a few clusters of people at each table.
Lily sat down with Molly and they both filled their plates with a sausage roll and some scrambled eggs
Once Molly finished eating she looked at Lily, who was still slowly eating her sausage roll while reading the daily prophet.
“Do you want me to tie your hair back?” Molly asked.
“Yes please. Can you do two braids instead of one please.” Lily asked excitedly about the offer of having her hair tied back. Truthfully she didn't love her long hair and wanted to cut it short but her mom forbade Lily from having short hair.
“Sure.” Molly said using her short fingernails to divide Lily's hair into two sections down the middle.
She then paid attention to one side at a time plaiting it tightly so it wouldn't come undone.
She used two of her elastics on Lily and made a note to buy elastics to use on Lily the next time she went to hogsmeade.
After breakfast Lily and Molly went down the hall to walk Lily to class.
“See ya after classes, same place?” Molly asked before leaving.
“Same place, same time, bye mollypop,” Lily said giggling a little.
